Means for curing sweet potatoes



' w. o. conon.

MEANS FOR CURING SWEET POTATOES.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921,

2 SHEETS SHEET 1.

v III Ll lll W. D COTTON.

MEANS FOR CURING SWEET POTATOES.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 8. 1920.

1 ,388,328. Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

D. COTTON, OF DARDAN ELLE, ARKANSAS.

, MEANS son CURING SWEET roTAroEs.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILEY D. CorroN,'a citizen of the United States, residing. at Dardanelle, in the county of'Yell and State of Arkansas, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Means for Curing Sweet Potatoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to'the ac-' companying drawings. 3 p

This invention relates to means for curing sweet potatoes, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved means of this, general character whereby air is blown through and under the potatoes at the requisite temperature and in a manner whereby the moisture carried off by the air isprevented from condensing on ceiling of the housing structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved means of this general character including a building structure orhouse interiorly divided into a plurality of bins or sections and wherein a heating medium is provided above each bin or section to maintain an even tempera-- ture.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved means of this general character embodying a building structure having a plurality of sections or bins arranged thereinfor the potatoes to be treated whereby the air within the building structure and more particularlyat the upper portion thereof maybe caused to circulate in a whirling fashion and which is of particular advantage. to prevent the accumulation of condensation on the ceiling of the structure. and whereby is eflectively overcome a decided disadvantage.

The invention consists in the. details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved means for v curing sweet potatoes whereby certain important advantages are attained and the" device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more'fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. j I y i In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe thesa-me with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein? I Figure is a fragmentary diagrammatic v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented u .23, 1 921.

Application filed May 8, 1920a Serial No. 379,836.

view in top plan of a means for curing sweet potatoes constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the building structure proper being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

'Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustratingin detail a hallway nozzle and a floor nozzle; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary secnozzle. r 7

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes a housing structure provided at predetermined points on its roof 1 with.

tional view illustrating in detail a ceiling the vents 2, of any desiredjconst-ruction,

which provide means for exhausting the air within the housing stru'cture S. Located within the structure S are the series of bins B arranged in a manner whereby the hallways 3 are provided. The upper portion of the interior of the structure S affords an air" chamber with which each bin B communi cates and each of said bins B is provided with a slatted floor 4 positioneda desired distance above the floor F. of the housing structure S with solidwalls 5 separating adjacent bins so that if one bin'is' IGCGlVlIlg warm air, said walls will'prevent the air of one bin interfering with theother. The] front of each of the bins is also of slats and each of said bins B" is divided into a plurality of compartments by the vertically disposed slatted walls 6. Each ofsaid compartments has disposed substantially centrally thereof a vertically disposed nozzle 7 preferably formed of slats.

P denotes a pipe line arranged exteriorly of the housing structure S and which leads from a suit-able source of heated air and which air is preferably forced through the pipe under the influence of a fan of any desired character. The pipe line P is arranged adjacent the upper portion of the structure and is provided with thelaterally disposed branch pipe lines P which extend within the housing structure and longitudinally of the end hallways 3. f a I Extending from each of the branch pipe lines P in opposite directions are the horizontally disposed pipes 8. Eachof the pipes 8 overlies one or more compartments of the bins and aboveeach compartment has inter posed thereina nozzle 9 capablefofrocking.

movement so that the same maybe disposed 8 as its axis. Interposed in the nozzle 9 V is a valve or damper 10, preferably of a slid ing type so that the discharge through each of the nozzles may be controlled one inde' pendently of the other;

Depending from at opposite sides of the hallways 3 are the pipes 11 which terminate below the floor F ofthe housing structure. Interposed in each of-the pipes 11 at a point in close proximity to the floor F isa horizontallydisposed nozzle 12 also capable of rocking movement rel.- ative to the pipe 8 as its axis. Coacting with each of the nozzles 12 is a sliding damper or valve 1 1 for controlling the discharge therethrough. The portion of each of the pipes 8 beneath the floor F constitutes a nozzle whereby the air may be delivered thereunder as required and the flow through the lower end portion of each of said pipes 11 is under control of the sliding valve or damper-15.

The lower portion of each of the pipes 11 is also provided with a horizontally disposed nozzle 16 and which extends a distance'be- 'neath the floor 21 of an adjacent bin B and the flow through said nozzle 16 is under control of a sliding valve or damper 17. I

As the air is discharged through the nozzles 16, such air strikes the vertically spaced pair of slats 18 arranged below the floor 1,

said pair of slats converging in cross sec tion toward the discharge end of the nozzlev 16 and terminating in close proximity there:

to. The slats 18 operate as a spreading medium wherebythe heated air discharged from the nozzle 16 is caused to come into contact or strike all of the potatoes at the,

bottom of a bin thereby assuring the proper curing.

The nozzles 12 are adjusted to the angle. as best preferred in pract ce and operate to, assure a constant circulation or moving'of' the. air within the housing structure while the nozzles 9 may be disposed downwardly to direct the air directly upon the potatoes in the upper. portion of the bins orjin an upwarddirection to effect a circulation of air in the upper portion of the housing struc- 50 ture and to cause the same; to pass out through the vents 2 before the moisture car- .ried by the air from off the potatoes canv condense .on the ceiling and drop back on the potatoes. It is to be understood that all of thepipes within the housing are of material to radiate heat supplied by the air passing therethrough so that said pipes will be maintained substantially at the same temperature as the air passin therethrough and serve as a further means for maintaining the requisite temperaturewithin the housing structure. I The nozzles 9 are turned downwardly 'partlcularly when the potatoes at the upper portions of the bin become cool and damp as occasioned by the air passing" the pipes 8 and arranged downwardly and the remainder disposed upwardly, the latter number serving to; effect the requisite circulation of the air in the upper port on of the housing structure to prevent condensation. V

The various dampers or slides coacting with the nozzles serve to permit certain of the bins to .cool down while theremainder are still receiving the requisite warm air and when required, all of the dampersor valves except the valves or dampers 15 may be closed so that the full force of the air will be caused to be discharged below the floor F so that said floor will be thoroughly dried in the eventthe same becomes damp. The hall nozzles 12 can be also adjusted as required to either blow the air up or down the hallway or to opposite sidesof thehallway and the" nozzles 9 and 12 can also be so adjusted or positioned as tocause the air to circulate through the housing structure in a whirlwind fashion. In this latter arrangement, the ceiling nozzles and hallway nozzles at one side of the housing structure are turned in one direction and the nozzles at the other side of the house are turned in the opposite direction. With this arrangement, it will be readily seen that the airwill be whirled around within the housing structure and out through the vents 2 before condensation will occur on the ceiling. g H V r I As is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that certain'of the bins are arranged inidouble rows and that a pipe line l? 'isarranged directly above such double row. This is of particular advantage as the damp air rising from the potatoes withinsuch bins comes directly in contact with a greater heating surface.

I also find it of advantage to have the slats 4t of each bin lower at the back. It is also to be understood that the slats are loose and can be readily" removed when necessary in order to remove accumulated dirt and to otherwise thoroughly clean out the bin By having the slats l disposedon a downward inclin or slant, the vair will'have a better or moreeflcctive pressure in the front portion of the" bin. l

The lower 'portionof each of the pipes 11 is removable on accountof the loose joint 11. It is'desired to have the lower portions of the pipes 11. removable to facilitate the placing of the potatoesin the bins.

lVhen desired, a, supplemental nozzle 16. may be engaged with a nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 is provided with an'angulandis charge end portion so that the heated air may be forced directly up through a nozzle 7 within a bin. The nozzle16 is preferably secured to a nozzle l6 by ,a slip or loose joint so that the same may be applied or removed with convenience and facility.

When the nozzle 16" is employed, the slats 18 which would otherwise coact with the nozzle 16 are removed.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a means for curing sweet potatoes constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modificationwithout departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A means for curing potatoes embodying the combination with a house structure inclosing a plurality of bins and providing an upper chamber above said bins and ballways, said housing structure being provided with means for exhausting the air from the chamber, each bin communicating with said chamber, and air conduits within the upper portion of the housing and leading from a suitable source of supply, ofnozzles interposed in said conduit and each having rocking movement about substantially a horizontal axis. 7

2. A means for curing potatoes embodying the combination with a house structure inclosing a plurality of bins and providing an upper chamber above said bins and hallways, said housing structure being provided with means'for exhausting the air from the chamber, and each bin communicating with said chamber, air conduits within the upper portion of the housing and leading'from a suitable source of supply; of nozzles interposed in said conduit and having rocking movement about substantially a horizontal axis, and conduits leading from said first named conduits and discharging below the bins, and substantially horizontally dis: posed nozzles interposed in said last named conduits and arranged within the hallways, each of said last named nozzles being adjustable about substantially a vertical axis.

3. A means for curing potatoes embody-' ing the combination with a house structure inclosing a plurality of bins and providing 'an upper chamber above said bins and hallways, said housing structure being provided with means for exhausting the air from the chamber, and each bin communicating with said chamber, air conduits within the upper portion of the housing and leading froma suitable source of supply; of nozzles interposed in said conduit and each having rock-i ing movement about substantially a horizontal-axis, and a controlling valve coacting with each of the nozzles.

l. A means for curing potatoes embodying the combination with a house structure inclosing a plurality of bins andcproviding an upper chamber above said bins and hallsubstantially a vertical axis, and a controlling'valve coacting with each of the nozzles.

5. A means for curing potatoes embodying the combination with a house structure inclosing a plurality of bins and providing an upper chamber above said bins and hallways, said housing structure being provided with means for exhausting the air from the chamber, and each bin communicating with said chamber, air conduits within the upper portion of the housing and leading from a suitable source of supply; of nozzles interposed in said conduit and each having rock: ing movement about substantially a horizontal axis, conduits leading from said first named conduits and discharging below the bins, substantially horizontally disposed nozzles interposed in said last named conduits and arranged within the hallways, each of said last named nozzles being adjustable about substantially a vertical axis, said last named conduits also discharging below the floor of the housing, and means for controlling said last named discharge. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILEY D. COTTON. 

